This week’s verse:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
Mark 12:30 (CSB)
In the beginning…
God created the heavens and the earth. He created the sky, the seas, the land, and every animal in existence. And then he created Man, breathing life into us and designing us for intimacy with him in a perfect world.
But now…
You know our world is not perfect. Our long history of willful desire, starting in the garden of Eden, continues to fracture our relationship with God, our world, and each other.
And yet…
God pursues us. In the fullness of time God sent his Son to do what only he could do: Repair the damage. Restore our relationship. Renew our soul.
Even now…
He is still pursuing us. Still inviting us into his presence to commune with him, walk with him, truly know him. Because even now, we stray.
The question is…
Will we take him up on it?
If your answer is yes, consider joining the 52 Week Memory Verse Challenge. It’s a year-long journey to deepen our connection with God by meditating daily on his character and promises as revealed to us in his Word.
This isn’t about head knowledge and rote memorization. It’s about taking a few minutes every day to focus our attention on God and his Word. To steep our hearts, souls, and minds in his presence. To give thought to what his character means and what his promises mean in the ordinary living out of our lives. And then to let those thoughts change us in slow, steady, profound ways over the course of the year.
Each week, we’ll steep ourselves in one Bible verse by spending a few minutes every day quietly reflecting on the words in the verse. Word by word, we’ll think on them, consider their meaning, and give ourselves time and space to connect those truths to our daily situations. We’ll spend time in silence, too, listening for God’s voice or simply acknowledging his presence. He is always there.
If this seems overwhelming or awkward, that’s okay. We all feel that way sometimes, especially when trying something new. Maybe start with just one or two minutes. That’s a great beginning. Then maybe add time as the days go on. The goal is to make a start, to keep the process simple so it’s doable everyday. Before you know it, it’ll be a life-changing habit.
Wait, wasn’t there something about memorization…?
Yeah, sure, that’d be great. Having verses memorized means we can bring them up when we need them without having a Bible handy. Memorized verses are a well we can draw from in the middle of the night, or in the car, or in an important conversation where an Internet search isn’t appropriate or convenient.
We can think about memorized verses anytime, anywhere, making it easier to practice God’s presence, to pray, and to make daily decisions with scriptural wisdom and insight.
But the goal of this challenge is as much about meditating as it is about memorizing. Maybe we should think of it as “memorating.” Sure, we can make up that word. It fits. We don’t want to memorize a series of words. We want to develop fountains of truth that course through our inner being and reshape our character from the inside out.
That said, I still have some tips for memorizing…
Because again, having verses memorized is invaluable.
If you’re a visual learner, give yourself an opportunity to look at the verse regularly during the course of each day. Write it down at stick it on your bathroom mirror, or find a willing friend and text it to each other. Or maybe create a reminder that pops up on your phone, tablet, or computer screen periodically that shows the verse and read it.
If you’re an auditory learner, give yourself the opportunity to hear the verse regularly. Take time each day to say the verse out loud, and emphasize a different word of the verse each time you repeat it. Maybe record a voice memo that you listen to, or again, partner with a friend and practice repeating the verse to each other.
If a quizzing style of learning is more to your taste, check out apps that are designed for Bible verse memorization (they exist!) or even find just a simple flashcard app you can use to quiz yourself. Build your own library of the challenge verses as you progress through the year.
Whatever your method, I highly recommend making a practice of reviewing verses from previous weeks (and years!). You might be surprised at how many verses will stay with you premanently if you implement this type of review.
Finally, let’s just be real about this and admit this will take some time. You don’t make progress with no effort, and effort requires at least a small slice of your waking moments. But you don’t have to stress over it, you don’t have to be legalistic about it, and you don’t have to give up if you miss a few days. You just have to keep trying in whatever small way you can. Ask God to help. He will.
Week 1
The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him.
Nahum 1:7 (ESV)
Week 2
The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18 (CSB)
Week 3
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
John 17:3 (ESV)
Week 4
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Colossians 1:15 (NIV)
Week 5
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV)
Week 6
This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
1 John 3:11 (NLT)
Week 7
My dear brothers and sisters, remain strong in the faith. Don’t let anything move you. Always give yourselves completely to the work of the Lord. Because you belong to the Lord, you know that your work is not worthless.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIRV)
Week 8
But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 7:7 (NIV)
Week 9
Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me.
Micah 7:8 (NASB1995)
Week 10
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”
Lamentations 3:24 (ESV)
Week 11
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
Week 12 & 13
24 The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.
Acts 17:24-25 (NIV)
Week 14
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
1 Peter 1:3 (CSB)
Week 15
Above all, fear the Lord and worship him faithfully with all your heart; consider the great things he has done for you.
2 Samuel 12:24 (CSB)
Week 16
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1 (ESV)
Week 17
I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.
Leviticus 26:12 (CSB)
Week 18-19
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;
2 Corinthians 2:14-15 (NASB1995)
Week 20
If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.
Mark 13:36 (NIV)
Week 21
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Galatians 6:7 (NIV)
Week 22
Now, vigilantly guard your souls: Love God, your God.
Joshua 23:11 (MSG)
Week 23
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)
Week 24
He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
Isaiah 40:11 (NIV)
Week 25 & 26
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
James 1:19-20 (NIV)
Week 27 & 28
1) Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. 2) In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him.
Hebrews 1:1-2 (CSB)
Week 29, 30, 31
6) Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7) And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8) Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 4:6-8 (NIV)
Week 32
A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.
Proverbs 19:11 (NIV)
Week 33
Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
Ephesians 4:29 (NLT)
Week 34
The Lord your God you shall follow, him alone you shall fear, his commandments you shall keep, his voice you shall obey, him you shall serve, and to him you shall hold fast.
Deuteronomy 13:4 (NRSV)
Week 35
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
Mark 12:30 (CSB)